The Impact of Cumulus Clouds and CCNs Regeneration on Aerosol Vertical Distribution and Size

TL;DR

This study uses high-resolution atmospheric modeling to analyze how cumulus clouds and CCN regeneration influence aerosol distribution and size, revealing significant impacts on vertical profiles and cloud condensation nuclei.

Contribution

It introduces a detailed coupled cloud-aerosol microphysical model that captures aerosol evolution during cloud life cycles, including regeneration processes.

Findings

Clouds alter aerosol vertical profiles and size distributions.

Cloud evaporation increases aerosol concentration in the inversion layer.

Both precipitating and non-precipitating clouds contribute to aerosol enhancement.

Abstract

This study employs a high-resolution (10m) System for Atmospheric Modeling (SAM) coupled with the Spectral Bin Microphysical (SBM) scheme to thoroughly investigate the processes governing the evolution of aerosol properties within and outside a shallow cumulus cloud. The model encompasses the complete life cycle of cloud droplets, starting from their formation through their evolution until their complete evaporation or sedimentation to the ground. Additionally, the model tracks the aerosols' evolution both within droplets and in the air. Aerosols are transported within the droplets, grow by droplet coalescence, and are released into the atmosphere after droplet evaporation (regeneration process). The aerosol concentration increases by droplet evaporation and decreases along with falling drops. So, the effects of clouds on the surrounding aerosols depend on the microphysical and dynamic processes, which in turn depend on the amount of background aerosols; here, we compare clean and polluted conditions. It is shown that clouds significantly impact the vertical profile of aerosol concentration in the lower troposphere, as well as their size distribution, and can serve as a source of large (giant) cloud condensation nuclei. Furthermore, it is shown that both precipitating and non-precipitating boundary layer clouds contribute to a substantial increase in aerosol concentration within the inversion layer due to intense evaporation.